A few Sundays ago, hubby and I enjoyed a much-needed stay-cation at The Blackman. As mentioned in my previous post, last month was hair-raisingly hectic so when an opportunity for some R&R came up, I couldn’t pack my weekend bag quick enough. This was no ordinary sojourn though, we had to be on our best behavior as we took part in Art Series Hotel Group’s “Reverse Reviews“.

Always ahead of the game and full of innovative ideas, the Art Series Hotel Group has turned the tables on traditional hotel review systems. Instead, they are trialling a new tongue-in-cheek program called Reverse Reviews where the hotel staff reviews its guests. Guest behaviour is assessed and ranked based on a point system. Don’t worry, it’s all done in a fun and light-hearted way. The reviews are published online. Guests who score a rating of five stars will be rewarded with complimentary stays. What a great way to award good behaviour!Out of The Cullen, The Olsen and The Blackman, I chose The Blackman because it was closest to hubby’s work, so it could save him time come Monday morning. Plus, we’d stayed at the Cullen before and had been to the Olsen a multitude of times for showings when I used to do buying for the boutique. The Blackman is really neat. I wish we could have stayed there longer. Nestled between the Botanical Gardens and Albert Park Lake, it’s perfect if you’re a running enthusiast or enjoy dining out as many great restaurants are just a stroll or tram ride away.The thought of bringing Winston along did cross my mind. For a second. During which I made a request for a cot. But then I blinked and remembered that the weekend away was for rest and upon hubby’s request, for Avengers 2. So as soon as we checked in, we thanked the hotel staff for the cot, had it removed and I had a warm, uninterrupted bath. It was bliss. And making myself feel at home, I even folded the towels. Having a light bulb moment…

I chose this loud and eccentric jumper because Blackman’s paintings are colourful and quirky, and I didn’t want to stick out like a sore thumb. Oh wait, too late…

Exploring your room at The Blackman is like having a conversation with an enthusiastic host because everything is annotated with witty one-liners and eccentric exhortations. The paintings are so quirky and mood-lifting. It would be a dream to have one of the rooms as my office. That way I could roll out of bed onto my desk to blog, and……make flatlays! By the way, the bed at the Blackman was phenomenal. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep like this in years! Good thing the beds are available for purchase. Another highlight from our stay is the discovery of T2’s Melbourne Breakfast tea from the tea selection. It’s only something little, but it’s the little things that make make all the difference. “A deep and warming tea with a hint of sweetness, reminiscent of Melbourne”. Time to incorporate this tea into my morning ritual!

Vintage Jumper & Culottes (See similar pairs here) // Chloe Shoes // Karen Millen Jeans (in first photo)

Think you’re the perfect hotel guest? Prove it by playing Reverse Reviews. If you pride yourself as being courteous and tidy, why not get the Art Series Hotels to recognise and reward your good behaviour? You can opt-in to participate when you stay at any of the six Art Series Hotels from now until 31st May 2015. So now it pays to behave! For more information about Reverse Reviews, check it out here.

To read my review by the staff at The Blackman, head over here.  As they noticed, I had multiple meetings to rush to on Monday so didn’t have a chance to express my undying love to the staff about our stay. Next time! I promise to make their day!

To play Reverse Review, head over here to book your stay at any 6 of the Art Series Hotels.